There’s a lot of breaking news in Hollywood happening every minute. In the age of the blockbuster, it’s easy for some smaller movie and television news to slip through the crack. Last Week in Hollywood is our new weekly series highlighting all the interesting news from the last week that we thought didn’t warrant its own post, but was still worth mentioning. It’s less personal opinions and more a hearty roundup of what you might have missed.
Young Guns 3 in the Works?
John Fusco, the writer behind Young Guns and Young Guns II, has teased on his social media that a third instalment may be in the works. He tweeted that star Emilio Estevez and himself are working on a continuation of the Billy the Kid saga. Here’s the Tweet:
Emilio Estevez and I are excited to be collaborating on this continuation of the Billy the Kid saga – and you’re going to love where it goes @LouDPhillips @RealKiefer @ChristianSlater @EW @headgeek666 @vincentdonofrio @prattprattpratt @regulator pic.twitter.com/IOrTmULDOf
— John Fusco (@JohnFusco12) January 15, 2021
Fusco tagged actors Chris Pratt and Vincent D’Onofrio, who weren’t in either Young Guns movies, in the tweet. Does this mean that these two actors are on board for the sequel? Is it a crossover with The Magnificent Seven? What is going on here? It could easily just be a comic book. Whatever the case, I think I’d be down for a third film. And our writer Jacob Holmes is throwing out Old Guns as a potential title.
Noah Baumbach Adapting 1985 Novel White Noise
Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) is directing a feature-length adaptation of Don DeLillo’s acclaimed 1985 novel White Noise. His frequent collaborators Greta Gerwig and Adam Driver are set to star in the film. Netflix will produce the film which is slated to start shooting in June.
The novel tells the story of “Jack Gladney, his fourth wife, Babette, and four ultramodern offspring as they navigate the rocky passages of family life to the background babble of brand-name consumerism. When an industrial accident unleashes an “airborne toxic event,” a lethal black chemical cloud floats over their lives. The menacing cloud is a more urgent and visible version of the “white noise” engulfing the Gladneys-radio transmissions, sirens, microwaves, ultrasonic appliances, and TV murmurings-pulsing with life, yet suggesting something ominous.”
Spamalot Moves to Paramount
Spamalot, a feature film adaptation of the Monty Python musical, has been acquired by Paramount Pictures. It was originally in development at 20th Century Studios before the Disney acquisition put it on the back burner.
The team on Spamalot remains mostly the same, with Broadway veteran and original Spamalot choreographer Casey Nicholaw still on board to direct and the show’s book writer Eric Idle still attached to pen the screenplay. The studio plans to begin casting this year.
Apple Acquires Ridley Scott’s Kitbag
Apple Studios has committed to finance and produce Kitbag, the Napoleon Bonaparte epic that Ridley Scott will direct. Joaquin Phoenix will star as the French emperor and military leader. Production will begin in early 2022 in the UK. The screenplay was written by David Scarpa (All The Money in the World). This is another solid acquisition by Apple, who also has Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon in development.
Kevin Hart Signs Four Film Deal with Netflix
Kevin Hart, through his company HartBeat Production, has signed a new first-look film production deal with Netflix. The comedian will produce and star in four new movies that will be available exclusively on the streaming service.
In a statement, Hart said that the goal is “to make the HartBeat name synonymous with first-class entertainment and narratives.” Mhm, well, if you’re starring in the films then good luck with that, Mr. Hart.
Sex and the City Revival a Go at HBO Max
Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis are confirmed to be reprising their Sex and the City roles for a limited series revival on HBO Max. Kim Cattrall is not expected to return as Samantha Jones (wasn’t she the fan favorite?). The 10-episode limited series will be titled And Just Like That… with Michael Patrick King back as executive producer alongside the trio. King directed multiple episodes of the original series and wrote and directed both feature films.
Board Game Risk Being Developed for TV
When will they ever learn. After the massive failure that was Battleship, Hasbro and Entertainment One are hoping to find success where Milton Bradley couldn’t. Hasbro has hired Beau Willimon (House of Cards) to develop a TV series adaptation of the classic strategy board game Risk. The project is part of a new multi-year, first-look TV deal with Westward, the production company created by Beau Willimon and Jordan Tappis. I have no clue how this board game (which I love playing) could possibly be adapted. Honestly, it would work better as a game show.
Kyle Patrick Alvarez Directing Crater
Kyle Patrick Alvarez (Homecoming) has been tapped to direct Crater for Disney+. The film is described as “a coming-of-age story in the vein of Stand By Me, set on a moon colony. After the death of his father, a boy growing up on a lunar mining colony takes a trip to explore a mysterious crater, along with his four best friends, prior to being permanently relocated to another planet.”
John Griffin wrote the script. Shawn Levy and Dan Levine will produce through their 21 Laps Entertainment banner. The film hopes to begin shooting this Spring.
Michael Waldron to Write Feige’s Star Wars Film
Michael Waldron has been hired to write the script for Kevin Feige‘s Star Wars movie. Feige will produce a film in a galaxy far, far away for Lucasfilm. There have been no details released on the project, and no mention of it was made at the recent Disney Investor Day.
Waldron has a long history with Feige. He wrote the script for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and is the head writer and creator of Loki. Clearly, Feige likes what Waldron is doing in the MCU and has brought him over to Lucasfilm.
Roku Acquires Quibi Content
As we still mourn the loss of Quibi (JK, we moved on ages ago), there is some good news about what will happen to all that content. Roku has announced that it has acquired global content distribution rights for the Quibi catalogue of shows.
The Roku Channel will become the exclusive streaming home to over 75 shows and documentaries created for the now defunct short form streaming service. Along with the content that originally streamed on Quibi, there are over a dozen titles that never made it to the platform which will now be debuting on The Roku Channel. That’s pretty sweet, and I’ll probably check out a couple of the shows that I remember being slightly interested in after watching its trailer.
Ben Affleck to Direct Keeper of the Lost Cities
Ben Affleck (when he isn’t busy playing Batman) is becoming a pretty fine director. Well, it looks like Disney wants a piece of the Affleck. The Mouse House has hired Affleck to direct a live-action adaptation of the bestselling book series Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. He will also produce through his Pearl Street banner and adapt the script with Kate Gritmon.
In the bestselling novel, “a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world before the wrong person finds the answer first. When 12-year-old Sophie finally discovers where her secret telepathic ability comes from, she learns she’s actually not human but is from another world that exists side-by-side with ours.”
Jon M. Chu Departs Willow Sequel Series
Jon M. Chu has departed the upcoming Willow sequel series. Despite casting being well underway and production gearing up, Chu tweeted that he was stepping away from the Disney+ series due to scheduling conflicts and a surprise pregnancy. Here’s the tweet:
Personal Update on Willow for @disneyplus that I’ve been working on… pic.twitter.com/eS7uurCMfg
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) January 11, 2021
Joe Barton Will Be Showrunner on The Batman Spin-off Series
Joe Barton (The Ritual) will act as showrunner on the upcoming The Batman spin-off series. Terence Winter was originally set as showrunner, but has since been replaced by Barton. The series “is set in the crime-infested streets of the Caped Crusader’s hometown Gotham City” and will be a HBO Max original.
Netflix Developing We Can Be Heroes Sequel
Netflix is developing a sequel to We Can Be Heroes with Robert Rodriguez set to return. Rodriguez wrote, produced, and directed the film, a spin-off sequel to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. The superhero film followed “the children of Earth’s superheroes being whisked away to a government safe house when alien invaders kidnap their parents.” It is apparently the most-watched Netflix original film (that’s if you take Netflix’s “viewership totals” as fact).
That’s it for last couple of weeks. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us down in the comments!
